BY MELANIE CSEPIGA
Times Correspondent
CROWN POINT | If it's true that most developers work toward completing subdivisions within seven years of breaking ground, the city will be looking for elbow room come 2013.

On Tuesday, the Crown Point City Council considered annexations that would add 1,400 housing units in the city borders.

Although Councilwoman Carol Drasga, R-at large, found fault with Olthoff Development's Hamilton Square on 63 acres west of Interstate 65, as did two of her colleagues, Still, they agreed to keep the project moving forward with specific recommendations going to the Plan Commission.

"It has tremendous monotony to it," Drasga said. "I can't see anything redeeming in it." For his part, developer Todd Olthoff said he's proud of the community based on a central square of green space, but agreed to work with the city on architectural changes.

At the same time, V-3 Realty of Woodridge, Ill., represented by Keith Blaze, received preliminary approval from the council for The Heritage, a 290-acre planned unit development that will total 986 housing units when completed.

"The heart of the project is 130 acres of open space," Blaze said. Work on the development could begin this spring.

The council's approval to the plan commission was accompanied by an expressed "concern" that there may not be ample entrances and exits to accommodate the development located off of Mississippi Street and 137th Avenue.

In a related matter, the council accepted the fiscal plan presented by attorney Tim Sendak on behalf of Whiteco Industries for the annexation of land at 1304 S. Indiana Ave.

Sendak said the specific plans for the acreage next to Morningside subdivision have not been settled. "The principals have a number of ideas. They know they want Crown Point city zoning control," he said.

This story ran on nwitimes.com on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 12:39 AM CDT